January 16, Kobe, Japan, M6.9
Five thousand five hundred two people confirmed killed,
36,896 injured and extensive damage (VII JMA) in the Kobe area and on Awaji-shima. Over 90 percent of the
casualties occurred along the southern coast of Honshu between Kobe and Nishinomiya. At least 28 people were
killed by a landslide at Nishinomiya. About 310,000 people were evacuated to temporary shelters. Over 200,000
buildings were damaged or destroyed. Numerous fires, gas and water main breaks and power outages occurred in the
epicentral area. Felt (VII JMA) along a coastal strip extending from Suma Ward, Kobe to Nishinomiya and in the
Ichinomiya area on Awaji-shima; (V JMA) at Hikone, Kyoto and Toyooka; (IV JMA) at Nara, Okayama, Osaka and Wakayama;
(V) at Iwakuni. Also felt (IV JMA) at Takamatsu, Shikoku. Right-lateral surface faulting was observed for 9 kilometers
with horizontal displacement of 1.2 to 1.5 meters in the northern part of Awaji-shima. Liquefaction also occurred in
the epicentral area.